Note: Life challenges, regardless of their origin, often provoke the question “why me.” In this blog, you can substitute whatever life challenge you’re facing for the word “injury.” The concepts – and opportunities – are universal. I met him at physical therapy. He started each conversation with,

“Before my injury I was a soccer player. Now, because of my injury, I’m an athlete.” ~KK, professional soccer player I’ve been injured for 3 years and 7 months, but who’s counting? I’m not. With more than a few setbacks and bonus surgeries along the way, I’ve

Does this sound like you? Fueled by Vitamin I (ibuprofen), you go for a run despite nagging pain. You’ve adopted a regimen of ice and more Vitamin I post-run. Eventually, nothing eases the pain, so you rest. Your friends recommend visiting practitioners ranging from traditional MDs to

Comparison–the inevitable pitfall of injury recovery. Comparison–not to someone else, but to your old, “perfect,” pre-injury self. In part 1 of this blog we reflected on comparison and discussed emotional breakdowns, scraping knobs off mountain bike tires, and tapestries. Further discussion about comparison of your post-injury self

I love Jesse. I love his philosophy. I love his calm presence. I love how he creates an atmosphere for his clients to be heard, to learn how to move properly, and to heal–both mentally and physically. Until I met Jesse, I’d never connected with a fellow

Comparison–the inevitable pitfall of injury recovery. Comparison–not to someone else, but to your old, “perfect,” pre-injury self. The comparison to your old self is highly quantifiable. Indeed, the exact percentage by which you currently suck is easy to measure. It’s probably on a graph your workout software

Last July I was convinced a litany of knee surgeries had come to an end. My knee was as good as a knee with arthrofibrosis can be. Then, out of nowhere, a setback bushwhacked me. At my next visit, Dr. Steadman and I agreed to wait and

Finding your motivation after injury can seem like your own personal Mt. Everest. “I don’t want to hear about creativity and finding other ways to move. Running is my life. It embodies everything I love. I’ve tried cycling and swimming. Nothing makes me feel as good as

What happens when we're willing to feel bad is that, sure enough, we often feel bad--but without the stress of futile avoidance. Emotional discomfort, when accepted, rises, crests and falls in a series of waves. Each wave washes parts of us away and deposits treasures we never imagined. No one would call it easy, but the rhythm of emotional pain that we learn to tolerate is natural, constructive, and expansive. It's different from unwilling suffering the way the sting of disinfectant is different from the sting of decay; the pain leaves you healthier than it found you. —Martha Beck